Thursday night, many Tomahawk residents were captivated by actor James Woods’ portrayal of a man battling amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s disease) on the NBC television drama “E.R.”

Woods superbly brought to light the suffering that this terminal illness brings as it progressively weakens muscles to the point of total paralysis. ALS can also take a person’s ability to breathe, speak and eat, but leaves mental function intact.

For some Tomahawk residents, ALS is more than just TV drama: It is their everyday reality. However, help and hope is available to them from the Muscular Dystrophy Association, the world leader in ALS research and services. Along with its research seeking treatments and a cure for ALS, MDA provides top-notch health care for people with ALS at the Marshfield Clinic. MDA also provides financial assistance for purchase and repair of assistive equipment like wheelchairs, and for communication devices for those whose speech is diminished by the disease. Support groups are another vital MDA service for people with ALS and their loved ones.

We hope that all of those who were touched by Woods’ performance will support MDA’s efforts to eradicate this devastating disease. Learn more at www.als-mda.org or by calling 920-499-0564.